Winter, traditions and tamales

It's official. Last night I put the down comforter on the bed. Winter is here.

Well, not technically. It's funny how our perception of the seasons rarely coincides with the actual date shown on calendars. My winter is two weeks earlier than the actual solstice;I am sure many other people have considered it to be winter for several weeks. I imagine that each of us have a moment when we say " it's winter" or summer or whatever. When I lived in San Francisco, the shift in season was usually signalled by the smell of woodburning fireplaces. The line between fall and winter is very blurred in the Bay Area, as it probably is in most mild climates. Especially since September and October were usually the loveliest months weather-wise, with bright sunny days and somewhat crisp nights. When the shift finally occurred and the days got chillier, you could smell the smoke in the air and that meant winter.

We are going away for the holidays this year. In years past, we have left on Christmas day or on the day after to go visit my family, but this year I suggested that we go before Christmas. This was largely because I wanted to take a side trip to Los Angeles to go hang out with some crazy internet people *waves to crazy internet people*, but also because my parents are in their eighties now, and it seemed important to spend the actual holiday with them. My sister informs me that my mother is excited past belief and making elaborate plans to celebrate. She has already discussed our Christmas dinner menu with me, although why I can't imagine. Our Christmas dinner is always roast beef with Yorkshire pudding, broccoli with hollandaise, creamed onions and various other side dishes. I suspect Mom is planning on making a trifle, which somehow she has convinced herself that our family loves. The truth is my sister hates trifle with a fiery passion, I like it fine as long as it doesn't replace PIE and my dad likes it a lot (or not, but when you have been married for over fifty years, you learn to pick your battles!). I will make sure there is lots of pie and peace will reign over the kingdom of Tucson.

Did I mention that we will be in Tucson? I am looking forward to the warmer weather and the mountains and shopping for pottery and jewelry. We will be playing golfseveral times and we may take a trip to the Chiricahuas, which are the mountains where Geronimo had his stronghold. I can't wait to see the desert decorations, I suspect we will see lots of luminarias. Luminarias are traditionally oiled paper bags with candles lit inside them. Nowadays, you can buy plastic versions of them and light them with Christmas lights. Grant and I brought some home and put them out in our yard last year. They were pretty with all the snow.

And tamales! I am going to eat tamales until I explode!!! Tamales is the Southwest tradition for Christmas. I feel it is vital that I embrace such traditions fully. *nods emphatically*

This has made me feel better. I have been feeling somewhat blue as the Christmas lights went up around the neighbourhood. We decided not to decorate, since we are leaving the week before Christmas, so seeing all the pretty lights made me jealous. But yesterday my wonderful husband bought me a potted Norfolk pine and we are going to decorate it tonight. That, combined with the prospect of tamales, has improved my spirits immensely.

Mmmmmm. Tamales....